HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tomatis, L. Articles by Blietz, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tomatis, L. Articles by Blietz, D.

Ann Thorac Surg 1981;32:604-608
© 1981 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Massive Arterial Air Embolism Due to Rupture of Pulsatile Assist Device: Successful Treatment in the Hyperbaric Chamber

From the Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI

Accepted for publication August 27, 1981.

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Tomatis, 21 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

We present the case of a patient who had rupture of a pulsatile assist device (PAD) accompanied by massive air embolism, and the treatment that brought it to a successful outcome. After rupture of the skin of the PAD balloon, a massive amount of air was injected into the ascending aorta. The patient was placed in Trendelenburg position and cooled in deep hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass. He was given 1 gm of methylprednisolone intravenously, and the aortic valve replacement and double vein bypass graft were performed.

After completion of the operation, the patient was partially rewarmed to 30°C central temperature and transported by ambulance to a hyperbaric chamber where he was compressed to 6 atmospheres absolute 9 hours after the accident with clinical signs of severe brain dysfunction. The patient recovered completely and was discharged from the hospital on the tenth postoperative day.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Kurusz, B. D Butler, J. Katz, and V. R Conti Air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass Perfusion, November 1, 1995; 10(6): 361 - 391. [PDF]

				S. Kol, R. Ammar, G. Weisz, and Y. Melamed Hyperbaric oxygenation for arterial air embolism during cardiopulmonary bypass Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 1993; 55(2): 401 - 403. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. S. Grim, L. J. Gottlieb, A. Boddie, and E. Batson Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy JAMA, April 25, 1990; 263(16): 2216 - 2220. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. L. Gold and J. C. Rios Iatrogenic Cardiovascular Disease Secondary to Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures J Intensive Care Med, January 1, 1987; 2(1): 49 - 60. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Menasche, E. Pinard, A.-M. Desroches, J. Seylaz, P. Laget, R. P. Geyer, and A. Piwnica Fluorocarbons: A Potential Treatment of Cerebral Air Embolism in Open-Heart Surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 1985; 40(5): 494 - 497. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F. F. A. Hendriks, A. J. J. C. Bogers, A. B. de la Riviere, H. A. Huysmans, and G. A. Brom The Effectiveness of Venoarterial Perfusion in Treatment of Arterial Air Embolism during Cardiopulmonary Bypass Ann. Thorac. Surg., October 1, 1983; 36(4): 433 - 436. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Kratz, J. G. Blackburn, R. B. Leman, and F. A. Crawford Cardiac Pacing under Hyperbaric Conditions Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1983; 36(1): 66 - 68. [Abstract] [PDF]